Taiwan: Council of Agriculture assures ample food supplies

Taipei, May 16 (CNA) The Council of Agriculture (COA) on Sunday assured the public that there are ample supplies in aquatic products and agricultural produce that can be ordered online, amid panic buying in many places after Taiwan saw a surge in COVID-19 cases. The council said it has 223,300 tonnes of fishery stocks from fish farmers and frozen food providers, with products ranging from tuna, salmon, shark, Pacific saury to squid. The stocks can support Taiwan for at least six months, the council said, adding that a 2-week demand from 6.6 million Taipei and New Taipei residents is around 6,500 tonnes. The Central Epidemic Command Center (CECC) raised the COVID-19 alert for the two special municipalities to Level 3 the previous day, which will be effective through May 28, as well as tightened disease control measures nationwide. Although the Level 3 alert, which has been imposed in Taiwan for the first time, stops short of a complete lockdown, panic buying has been seen among ...